Michigan trip
A lot of people think you need to visit foreign countries or exotic destinations to enjoy travel and exploration. Thankfully, that is not the case! This summer, my family made our way up to my husband’s hometown of Port Austin, Michigan to spend some time with family up there. Located on the shores of Lake Huron, this adorable village with a population just over 1,300 is a popular summer destination for tourists. Here you will find local motels (no big chain hotels here), a small grocery store, a variety of locally owned shops and restaurants, and the Port Austin State Harbor, where you will see everything from local fishing boats to sailboats to luxury yachts. You will also find a beautiful swimming beach, bike/kayak rentals, playgrounds, and boat tours out to the off-shore Port Austin lighthouse located nearby. On Saturday mornings, the village hosts the largest outdoor Farmer’s Market in the Thumb region where you can find locally grown produce, freshly baked treats, a variety of arts and crafts, and even live music. Our whole family had a great time looking at everything the vendors had to offer. We also enjoyed eating out at local restaurants during this stay in Port Austin. We had a fantastic family dinner at The Tap Room at Bird Creek Farms, a popular farm to table restaurant featuring plenty of fresh ingredients on its diverse menu. We also had delicious sweet treats every night from different local ice cream shops (the Sea Salt Turtle Cone at Ryback’s Ice Cream Store was my fave!), which made for the perfect ending to long summer days spent swimming and playing in the woods!
Even though we are not strangers to the area, we make a point to find new adventures to explore on every visit. During this trip, we took a boat ride out to Charity Island, which is located 10 miles off-shore in the middle of Saginaw Bay. The island is home to a lighthouse and keeper’s cottage, as well as a picnic pavilion and a separate cottage that is available for vacation rentals. The isolated beaches and unique hardwood forest provide excellent habitats for a variety of plants and animals. The limestone that outcrops along the Island’s shoreline is heavily embedded with the mineral “chert”, which was an important part of stone tool making by native American Indians who occupied the island for nearly 2,000 years. This island is full of natural beauty and history for anyone to access via private boat or chartered day trip cruises. Neighboring Little Charity Island is actually a National Wildlife Refuge that was established in 1947 as a breeding ground for over 200 species of migratory birds. Boaters passing by can witness hundreds of birds flying, swimming, and nesting on and near the island. It was an incredible sight to see on our ride back to shore!
Yes, we traveled to Michigan primarily to see family, but we all had a wonderful time enjoying the region's natural beauty and exploring new places. So, next time you take a business trip or visit loved ones in another part of the country- make sure you take the time to explore the local area. You never know what unexpected adventures you might find!
~Blogger Billie
